The History of Artificial Grass

The idea came about in the late 1950’s and gained substantial attention in the 1960s, when it was used in the newly constructed Astrodome. The specific product used was developed by an American company called Monsanto, they named it Astroturf, this term since then became a generic trademark for any artificial turf throughout the late 20th century. It has now been available commercially for over 50 years, it was used in baseball and field sports in 1966 and became more popular throughout the 1970’s. It can have a lifespan of around 20 years.

Artificial Grass is rapidly becoming a popular alternative to natural grass, people lives are becoming increasingly busy therefore the precious time they have away from work it better spent relaxing and enjoying the time with the family instead of mowing the lawn. An artificial lawn is perfect for busy families and professionals, elderly people who can no longer mow their lawns, it is also great for pet owners as all our artificial grass is pet friendly and very easy to keep clean. An artificial lawn is safe for children and with the use of a shockpad underlay will meet any critical fall height standards.

This simply guide is designed to give you everything you need to know about synthetic grass and help you through the buying process, from asking the right questions, choosing artificial grass online through to aftercare, and beyond.

The Benefits of an Artificial Lawn over a Natural Lawn

No more mowing, on average people spend 7 weeks of their lives mowing the lawn, that is approximately 20 hours a year. Three quarters of the British population have a garden, yet on average it is only used for 30% of the year. 50% of those people spend money buying a lawnmower, a petrol lawnmower puts out harmful CO2 gas into the air. 15 million people in the UK suffer from hay fever, over 90% of those people are allergic to grass pollen. Over 50% of a household’s water consumption can be used during hot times to irrigate a natural lawn. Save money, fuel, and harmful emissions by having an artificial lawn that will always stay green.

How to choose an Artificial Grass online

There is a plethora of artificial grass suppliers online nowadays. It can seem a difficult task to choose between what can appear very similar products. It is worth mentioning what sometimes what appears to be a good value product is not always the case. There are many different types and styles of artificial grass, suitable for various applications. Our friendly staff can answer any questions you may have and advise you on the correct product to fulfill your needs.

When you look at artificial grass supplier’s websites you will see that most offer around 10 – 12 different types, at Go Artificial Grass we now offer over 40 different types of synthetic grass and outdoor carpet. So how do you choose grass online with so much choice? It’s very similar to buying curtains or a new sofa online. You can see images of each product and read the product description. We have large, close-up images of each of our fake grass products. All artificial grass looks good from a distance. It’s on closer inspection that you can appreciate the higher quality artificial grass to the budget artificial grass.

As you will see from our images we provide a good selection of shots from various angles and close ups of the side on angle, so you can get an idea of the density of the grass, almost all our fake grass has a two-tone curly thatch that not only adds to the comfort of the product but replicates the real thing. We do our best to cover the full specification of each grass, the key points are pile height, pile weight, total weight, stich rate, roll width, and of course sq metre price. At Go Artificial Grass we sell synthetic grass from as little as £3.49m2 up to £24.99m2

We aim to have the perfect grass for to suit any budget, in 2017 we sold over 600,000 sq metres and in 2018 our target is to sell over 1,000,000 sq metres. That’s enough fake turf to cover 187 football pitches. Due to shear number of rolls or artificial grass we process we always end up with roll ends and off cuts, so if you are looking to cover a small area these can be ideal as we usually discount them to sell them quickly.

What Questions Should i ask an Artificial Grass Supplier?

• Can I have a free sample?• What guarantee is provided?• What is your returns policy?• Is the grass suitable for pets?• How much do you charge for delivery?• Can I install the grass myself?• How much will the installation cost if I ask you to do it?

Free Samples

For an online artificial grass company to be successful it is expected of you to offer free samples, at Go Artificial Grass we make the process very simply, on any of our product pages you can add a free sample to your basket.

Many of us are tactile people and when we want to buy a product we like to touch it, it is part of the buying process. We want our customers to be able to touch, feel and compare our products with other company’s products and what better way to do that than in the comfort of their own home. Choosing to install an artificial lawn can be a big financial commitment so it is essential you pick the right type of grass for you. Free artificial grass samples enable you to do this.

We welcome customers to have up to 6 samples at any one time. We offer sample pieces approximately 12cm x 10cm. Larger samples can be provided on request.

The Manufacturing Process of Artificial Grass

Artificial Grass is made using the same tufting techniques used in the manufacture of carpets. The materials used to make artificial grass are a synthetic man-made material called polypropylene and polyethylene. The large rolls of yarn are loaded onto bars behind the tufting machine, the yarn is then fed through small tubes leading to the tufting needle. The needle pierces the primary backing of the grass and pushes the yarn into the loop. A flat hook, seizes and releases the loop of yarn while the needle pulls backup, the primary backing then shifts forward and the needle once more pierces the backing further on. This process is carried out by several hundred needles, and several hundred rows of stitches are carried out per minute. The yarn is now a carpet of artificial grass.

The artificial grass roll is then fed through a dispenser that spreads a coating of latex onto the underside of the grass. At the same time a strong secondary backing is also coated with latex, both are then fed onto a marriage roller which bonds them together forever. The artificial grass is then fed through a system of heat lamps which cures the latex. The grass is fed through a finishing machine that clips off any loose of rogue tufts that rise above the uniform surface. The grass carpet is then ready to be rolled up into 25m long rolls and packaged in strong plastic wrapping ready to be shipped to the Distributor.

We use a variety of shades of green and different thicknesses of yarn to create the perfect result, natural grass is not uniform in colour, so we try to replicate this in our products, also in different parts of the country natural grass grows very differently not only are the colours different but the thickness and texture of the strands varies, we take all this into account when designing the grass with our manufacturer. We also include the light and dark brown thatch in the base enhancing the natural look even further. We offer a selection of grasses ranging from 6mm – 50mm thick.

What does Artificial Grass Feel Like?

Plastic grass comes in different styles and textures just like natural grass, depending on how the grass has been constructed depends on the feel. If you were to look down the end of a piece of grass yarn you will see that it has a shape to it, this shape is typically flat, C shape, V shape, W shape, S shape, diamond shape or oval shape. If the construction of the grass is made of a thin flat yarn with a high stitch rate and dense thatch then it will feel soft to touch and springy to walk on.

If on the other hand it was constructed of a thick w shape yarn with the thatch rising almost to the surface it will feel coarse and rigid. Either way all artificial grass feels fine to walk on bare foot. Of course, it is always better to request some free samples, so you can see for yourself.

Is Artificial Grass Child Friendly?

Synthetic grass is a perfect surface for children to play on. It gives them a relatively soft surface to land on, we all know in wet conditions those bald patches on the lawn can soon turn to mud which is sure to make its way into the home and during the summer there is less chance of grazed knees from the dry soil and lawn.

The drainage holes let the rain drain away into the soil. After rainfall an artificial lawn can be dry again within 15 minutes, so the children can be straight back out again enjoying the garden without having to worry about wet clothes and muddy footprints.

If you plan to have play equipment such as climbing frames and trampolines in your garden you can make your artificial grass even more child friendly by having a shockpad underlay installed underneath. This is an impact absorbing, exterior safety underlayment system. When this is used in the correct thickness with a suitable artificial grass it can attain a critical fall height value of up to 3m.

Artificial grass is so child friendly, it contains no harmful ingredients such as lead, or cadmium therefore makes it a perfect surface for school playgrounds. Fake grass provides an all-weather, cushioned, and aesthetically pleasing surface ideal for children during recreation, but also during sports play.

What is Critical Fall Height?

According to British Standards EN 1177:2008 all play equipment with a free fall height above 0.6m requires a critical fall height certified flooring around the play equipment (this is the maximum platform height from which a child can fall from). It is also worth noting that the maximum fall height should not be greater than 3m. This means that the free fall height shouldn’t exceed 3m.

For exceptional protection and up to 3m Critical Fall Height (CFH), our Shock Pad delivers a quick and simple solution to meeting the highest standards of play safety. Tested and approved in accordance with EN 1177:2008

Is Artificial Grass Safe for Pets?

Pets like fake turf just as much as a natural lawn. They will happily run around, play, and do their business on a synthetic lawn. One of the advantages of artificial grass is that it has drainage holes and is permeable, so urine can easily drain through and faeces can be easily removed. It is worth pointing out that a good drainage system underneath the fake turf is important to ensure that water and urine can disperse easily into the crushed stone and soil below.

We hear stories of people complaining about the strong smell of urine from their pet when using artificial turf, this is generally down to them laying the turf onto a solid surface or a surface that does not have sufficient drainage material below. There is only ever a problem with smells if the urine is trapped underneath the grass and left to fester. It is always a good idea to wash off an area where an animal has done its business, there are also eco-friendly detergents you can use if you wish. Artificial grass is stain resistant, so you will never get the tell-tale yellow patches on the lawn like you do with a natural lawn.

Artificial grass is safe for all animals. You can search online and see many cases of happy pets enjoying their artificial playground. With its soft, natural appearance artificial grass creates the perfect environment for pets.

Installing Artificial Grass

At Go Artificial Grass we only supply the materials we do not get involved with the installation process, however we have many trade customers throughout the country that we gained a lot of knowledge from and we understand the installation process from start to finish.

If you are competent at DIY then you may be planning to install the artificial lawn yourself. We have a more in-depth guide on How to Install that gives you a very detailed description of the process. Before you can lay synthetic grass, you need to prepare the surface. If you are replacing a natural lawn then the first step is to remove the existing turf, it is recommended to remove it to a depth of between 50 to 75mm. If you have poor drainage soil, then it is better to have a deeper base.

Where there is not an edge or a wall to butt the grass up to use some tanalised wooden battens (75mm x 25mm) securing with either wooden stakes or support with concrete to create a boundary around the perimeter. Alternatively create a concrete block edge to establish a frame around the area to be covered with artificial grass.

Get rid of any unnecessary bumps or left-over debris, then carefully level off the area you wish to cover leaving natural falls. Lay a geotextile membrane as a lining for the sub-base before adding hardcore stone. A geotextile has a strong tear resistance and is an ideal stabilising membrane. This will not only prevent weeds but will also stabilise the sub base prior to artificial grass being laid.

Apply 50mm layer of type 1 hardcore, compacted, followed on top with 25mm of builder’s sharp sand to your levelled area. The sand is only there to blind the top of your sub-base, so should be firm. Too much sand will cause dips, humps and bumps when you eventually lay your grass over the top. Alternatively use to a depth of 75mm 0-6mm granite dust, which is an ideal base aggregate for a sub base.

Once level compact it with a heavy roller or wacker plate. The area needs to be porous, but firm. To level the area use screed rails or a wooden batten 2″ x 4″ x 2 metres, sliding the bar left and right pulling towards you across the surface. Lay Evergrass weed membrane over the area you wish to lay your artificial grass. This should be fixed to the perimeter area using 150mm fixing U pins.

Unroll your fresh, new artificial lawn. Stretch over your covering area and leave rolled out for 24hrs. This will allow the pre-rolled grass time to settle with any creases time to come out and the pile to settle after being rolled. The warmer and sunnier the weather the quicker this process will take. Once settled carefully cut the boundary with a sharp trimming knife.

Anchor your artificial lawn to the ground around the edges with 150mm U pins approximately every half metre. Alternatively, where a boundary has been created with the tanalised wooded battens simply use galvanised screws or grip nails to secure the edge of the grass to the top edge of the wooden battens. The thickness of the pile will hide the head of the nails. If a concrete block edge has been used the grass can be fixed on using our Greenbond Adhesive, applying the adhesive directly onto the block edge. 1 tube per 4 linear metres of edge.

After Care

So, as you have already learnt synthetic grass needs nowhere near as much maintenance as a natural grass, there is no mowing, no watering and no fertilisers required, this saves both time and money. Artificial grass maintenance is simple, all you need to do is to regularly remove any debris such as leaves and other organic matter, and sweep the grass with a stiff broom. Leaving organic matter to decompose creates soil, which allows the growth of moss and weeds, and stops your lawn from looking its best.

Artificial Grass Cleaning Guide

If you decide to periodically clean your plastic grass you can do this using an environmentally friendly detergent mixed with warm water. You might want to clean your artificial lawn from time to time if you have a lot of pets using it to do their business, and the grass is regularly used by children.

More Information

If you have any further questions regarding artificial grass then please call us and talk to one of our friendly members of staff on 0800 1777 842